Wheaton's Legion team missed state playoffs, but had successful season

Wheaton recently concluded an impressive season of American Legion baseball by getting the rare opportunity to host a divisional finals tournament.

And while the team, which represents American Legion Post 76, fell short of getting a state playoff berth during that tourney, head coach Jerry Miller said it was great summer.

"We had a great bunch of kids," said Miller, who has been coaching the team for 11 years. "Everybody was involved. Everybody showed up. The kids had a great attitude, and we had a group of very supportive parents."

The Wheaton Legion squad - comprised of high school baseball players from Wheaton North, Glenbard North, St. Francis and Wheaton Academy - ended up with a final record of 25-10. However, the season got off to a slow start. During a tournament Wheaton hosted in June, the team was short-handed and went 2-3 during the competition.

The following week the team lost in the finals of a wood bat tourney in Barrington. Then the team went 4-0 in a tournament during the Fourth of July weekend.

With players like Aric Dama of Winfield and Ryan Sabalaskey of Carol Stream performing well, Miller said the team was on a roll going into the playoffs.

Wheaton won the DuPage County tournament by beating Elmhurst 2 games to 1. Then the team came in third place behind Elgin and Crystal Lake during the during district tournament.

Miller said he couldn't remember the last time Post 76 hosted a Second Division tournament at its field in Carol Stream. So when Legion Field was selected as the site for last month's double-elimination tourney, it was "an honor," he said.

"Three teams put in for it and we got it," Miller said. "It's a big deal."

Barrington, Crystal Lake, Ottawa, Fulton and Wheaton all competed in the tournament, which was held July 22-26.

After losing their first game to Fulton, the Wheaton team went on a three-game winning streak. Trey Martin of Wheaton was named MVP of the tournament for his performance.

But in order to get an invite to the state tournament, the team had to beat Barrington twice because they were undefeated going into the finals.

While the first championship game was close, Miller said his team simply "ran out of gas," losing 4-3. Miller admits the loss was difficult to take.

"I felt bad for the kids," he said, adding that it's one of the finest teams he's coached for Post 76.

Of course, members of the post took notice and were supportive of the team during the season.

"They were all out there cheering us on," Miller said.

Apparently, high school baseball players also were paying attention to the team's winning ways.

While 20 players usually attend the team's tryouts, more than twice as many are expected to seek spots on the next summer's roster.

And with eight players from this year's team expected to return, Miller said: "I feel very good about next year - very excited."